Don’t take unnecessary trips in adverse conditions, leave earlier or postpone your trip. If you must travel on days of extreme weather, inform someone of which route you plan to take and how long you think it will take to arrive at your destination. Carry plenty of fresh drinking water.

Never leave children or pets unattended in a car. Temperatures rise to dangerous levels quickly. As little as a few minutes in a closed car can result in serious injuries, even death.

While travelling, children and pets require additional precautions to protect them. Consider using rear window shades. Remember that the back seat and cargo areas can be considerably warmer than the front-seat area. Position air conditioning vents so they direct air to the rear.

Vehicle breakdowns are more likely to occur in extreme heat. Check your car before you leave. Do not run the risk of running out of fuel.

Checking your engine coolant level is vital, add coolant if required and carry extra water as a precaution. Do not attempt to open your radiator cap if your car is hot – this can result in serious burns.

Ensure your tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure, including the spare tyre. Under or over inflated tyres in combination with extreme heat can result in dangerous blow-outs.

If your vehicle does break down, where possible, stop or park the vehicle in the shade and avoid parking on long dry grass. This could be a potential fire hazard because of the hot exhaust system.

Throwing cigarette butts from a car is dangerous, irresponsible and illegal. Substantial fines apply. If you see anyone throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle, record their number plate and report them to the EPA – https://portal.epa.vic.gov.au/irj/portal

It’s not unusual for hot weather to result in some bleeding of the road surface (the road surface becomes soft and sticky). Road bleeding is more likely to occur on recently sealed roads, and is unavoidable in extreme heat. Please drive to the conditions and observe all safety warnings.

Use extreme caution if you encounter rain when the predicted cool change moves in. Rainfall mixes with oils and dirt on the road and results in very slippery surface conditions.

Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged and carry cash in case of emergencies. Make sure you are well rested and take regular breaks.

For the latest information visit traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au, download the VicTraffic app, follow @VicTraffic on Twitter or check the VicTraffic Facebook page.

If you see any problems on our roads, please report them to the VicRoads Traffic Management Centre on 13 11 70 (open 24/7). In an emergency call Triple Zero (000).